Books Blog : mysteries, mystery serieshttp://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/tags/mysteries/mystery+series/default.aspxTags: mysteries, mystery seriesenCommunityServer 2008 SP1 (Build: 30619.63)Commander Jana Matinova investigates http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2010/06/04/commander-jana-matinova-investigates.aspxFri, 04 Jun 2010 13:54:00 GMT9a7b961d-7882-4302-b701-732ca0e566f2:2162Meditatinglibrarian@evpl0http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=2162http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2010/06/04/commander-jana-matinova-investigates.aspx#comments<p>I&#39;ve discovered a new mystery author and series to read!&nbsp; I was reading reviews of forthcoming books and very much liked what I read about <i><a target="_blank" href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSmagicians%20accomplice%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" title="Magician&#39;s Accomplice">The Magician&#39;s Accomplice</a></i> by Michael Genelin.&nbsp; I looked to see if we had the earlier books in the series.&nbsp; We do, but they haven&#39;t been checked out and read very much.&nbsp;&nbsp; So I decided to read the earlier books before deciding whether or not to get the new title.</p>
<p>I read both <i><a target="_blank" href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSsiren+of+the+waters%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" title="Siren of the Waters">Siren of the Waters</a></i> and <i><a target="_blank" href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSdark+dreams+genelin%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def" title="Dark Dreams">Dark Dreams</a> </i>over the Memorial Day weekend; I did very little else.&nbsp; <i>The Magician&#39;s Accomplice</i> is third in the series, scheduled for publication in July.&nbsp; Jana Matinova is a very fine investigator committed to seeking justice.&nbsp; Her personal life is complicated.&nbsp; She works for the police force in Bratislava, capitol of the current Slovakia, growing up there during the time the Czechoslovakian Communists were in control.&nbsp; I became interested enough in the setting to look up some of the history of Bratislava.&nbsp; From 1918-1939, and again from 1945-1992, it was part of Czechoslovakia.&nbsp; The Czechoslovakian Communists came to power in 1947.&nbsp; From 1939-1945 Bratislava was an independent state under German direction.&nbsp; The Slovak Republic, or Slovakia, became an independent state with Bratislava as its capitol in 1993.&nbsp; This is a part of the world I heard very little about during the time period in which the novels are set, when I was also growing up.&nbsp; Genelin provides a window into that world the makes it more comprehensible to me.&nbsp; Jana travels to Venice, Nice, Strasbourg, and Kiev during her investigations - descriptions of the settings, the politics, and the people add tremendously to the very suspenseful and well-written story.&nbsp; I loved these books.</p>
<p><img width="100" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=9781569474846" alt="Siren of the Waters" height="150" style="vertical-align:bottom;margin:5px;" /><img width="100" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=9781569475577" alt="Dark Dreams" height="150" style="margin:5px;" /><img width="100" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=9781569476260" alt="Magician&#39;s Accomplice" height="150" style="margin:5px;" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://evpl.org/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=2162" width="1" height="1">mysteriesmystery seriesThe Mystery of the Secret Ingredient in the Chocolate Chip Cookieshttp://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2009/06/23/the-mystery-of-the-secret-ingredient-in-the-chocolate-chip-cookies.aspxTue, 23 Jun 2009 22:26:00 GMT9a7b961d-7882-4302-b701-732ca0e566f2:1631kiya@evpl0http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=1631http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2009/06/23/the-mystery-of-the-secret-ingredient-in-the-chocolate-chip-cookies.aspx#comments<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img width="150" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=0385475284" alt="jacket for The girl who ran off with daddy" height="200" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img width="150" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=1558322957" alt="jacket baker&#39;s field guide to chocolate chip cookies" height="200" />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <img width="150" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=0312986106" alt="jacket for the cold blue blood" height="200" /></p>
<p><a href="http://www.davidhandlerbooks.com/index.php">David Handler</a> started it all.&nbsp; I had enjoyed his mystery series about the ghostwriter Stewart Hoag and his dog Lulu, so when he started a new mystery series, I was one of the first to read about Mitch Berger, a New York film critic, and Lt. Desiree Mitry, a Connecticut State Trooper. There are now six Berger &amp; Mitry mysteries, and I&nbsp;enjoyed them all, and&nbsp;always eager to see a new one arrive. I&nbsp;definitely recommend reading them in order, as the relationship between Mitch and Dez grows.</p>
<p>An interesting sidelight to this recommendation is that the early books mention Mitch&#39;s neighbor, who makes the best chocolate chip cookies, but won&#39;t share the identity of her secret ingredient.&nbsp; Mitch does her grocery shopping, so he has a pretty good idea that the secret ingredient is sour cream, but he doesn&#39;t&nbsp;inform his neighbors (only the readers of the book). The recipe, however, is not included.</p>
<p>I&#39;m always looking for good cookie recipes, so I&#39;ve kept my eyes open for a chocolate chip cookie recipe with sour cream as an ingredient, but never found one.&nbsp; Even <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/record/C%7CRb1647574%7CSbaker%27s+field+guide%7CP0%2C2%7COrightresult?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">A Baker&#39;s Field Guide to Chocolate Chip Cookies</a> didn&#39;t have one that looked right. Then last month, <em>Shh I&#39;m Reading</em> blogged about <a href="http://evpl.org/community/blogs/research/archive/2009/05/08/finding-recipes-fast.aspx">finding recipes online</a>, and while playing with those sites, I located several chocolate chip cookie recipes with sour cream as an ingredient.&nbsp; My daughter and I are testing them now, and when we declare a winner, I&#39;ll post a link&nbsp;to that recipe.&nbsp; Meanwhile, enjoy some David Handler mysteries!&nbsp; (And if you have a good sour cream chocolate chip cookie recipe, feel free to post it!) </p>
<p><img width="110" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=0312987048" alt="jacket the hot pink farmhouse" height="175" />&nbsp;<img width="110" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=0312307144" alt="jacket for the bright silver star" height="175" /> <img width="110" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=0312307357" alt="jacket the burnt orange sunrise" height="175" />&nbsp;<img width="110" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=031234211X" alt="sweet golden parachute" height="175" /> <img width="110" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=0312376693" alt="jacket the sour cherry surprise" height="175" /></p>
<p>Mitch Berger and Desiree Mitry:</p>
<ul>
<li>1. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CScold+blue+blood%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Cold Blue Blood</a></li>
<li>2. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CShot+pink+farmhouse%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Hot Pink Farmhouse</a></li>
<li>3. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSbright+silver+star%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Bright Silver Star</a></li>
<li>4. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSburnt+orange+sunrise%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Burnt Orange Sunrise</a></li>
<li>5. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSsweet+golden+parachute%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Sweet Golden Parachute</a></li>
<li>6. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/search/C%7CSsour+cherry+surprise%7COrightresult%7CU1?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Sour Cherry Surprise</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Stewart Hoag and Lulu: (these books have all been out of print, but the first four have recently been reprinted by Busted Flush Press, dedicated to reprints of fine hardboiled crime fiction)<img width="150" src="http://contentcafe2.btol.com/ContentCafe/Jacket.aspx?UserID=III21&amp;Password=BT0005&amp;Return=1&amp;Type=L&amp;Value=0385480520" alt="jacket the man who loved women to death" height="200" style="float:right;" /></p>
<ul>
<li>1. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Man Who Died Laughing </span></li>
<li>2. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Man Who Lived By Night</span></li>
<li>3. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Man Who Would Be F. Scott Fitzgerald</span></li>
<li>4. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/record/C%7CRb1240146%7CShandler+david%7CP0%2C13%7COrightresult?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Woman Who Fell From Grace</a></li>
<li>5. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Boy Who Never Grew Up</span> - out of print</li>
<li>6. <span style="text-decoration:underline;">The Man Who Cancelled Himself</span> - out of print</li>
<li>7. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/record/C%7CRb1325511%7CShandler+david%7CP0%2C12%7COrightresult?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Girl Who Ran Off With Daddy</a> - out of print</li>
<li>8. <a href="http://encore.evpl.org/iii/encore/record/C%7CRb1356429%7CShandler+david%7CP0%2C11%7COrightresult?lang=eng&amp;suite=def">The Man Who Loved Women To Death</a> - out of print&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://www.davidhandlerbooks.com/index.php">David Handler&#39;s website</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.bustedflushpress.com/reprints.php">Busted Flush Press</a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://evpl.org/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1631" width="1" height="1">mysteriesmystery seriesrecipesbakingDavid Handlerchocolate chip cookiesElementary, my dear Peabody ...http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2009/04/20/elementary-my-dear-peabody.aspxMon, 20 Apr 2009 20:37:00 GMT9a7b961d-7882-4302-b701-732ca0e566f2:1439myzticrhythmz@evpl0http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=1439http://evpl.org/community/blogs/books/archive/2009/04/20/elementary-my-dear-peabody.aspx#comments<p><img width="249" src="http://www.sacred-texts.com/earth/ams/img/pyramid.jpg" alt="pyramid" height="274" style="vertical-align:top;" /></p>
<p>There are some books you read to stay current and informed, and some that you read because you &quot;should&quot; or you &quot;have to&quot;. Then there are the books you read simply for the pure enjoyment of reading them.</p>
<p>One of my favorite fun reads is the <b><i><a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search/d?SEARCH=Peabody,%20Amelia%20(Fictitious%20character)%20Fiction">Amelia Peabody</a></i></b> mystery series by<a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search~S0?/apeters,%20elizabeth/apeters+elizabeth/1%2C3%2C116%2CB/exact&amp;FF=apeters+elizabeth+1927&amp;1%2C110%2C"> <b>Elizabeth Peters</b></a>. This series features intrepid Egyptologist Amelia Peabody Emerson (aka &quot;Peabody&quot;) and is set between 1884 and 1923, mostly in Egypt. Our heroine is a wry, progressive woman, madly in love with her husband Professor Radcliffe Emerson (aka &quot;Emerson,&quot; or the &quot;Father of Curses&quot; to the native Egyptians), and ever-watchful of her precocious son Ramses. What makes this series so appealing is the interplay between characters, the witty dialogue, and the realistic way Peters paints turn-of-the-twentieth-century archaeology.</p>
<p>I have not read this series in order but have gone back to the beginning to pick up some of the first books. My most recent read was <b><i><a href="http://evans.evpl.org/search/t?SEARCH=lion%20in%20the%20valley">Lion in the Valley</a></i></b>. This story has Peabody, Emerson, Ramses and their entourage excavating pyramids, accompanied by a companion for Ramses and a wayward young woman in Amelia&#39;s care. The latter come with their own troubles, and when you add a couple of kidnappings, a couple of murders, and the return of Amelia&#39;s arch-enemy, the &quot;Master Criminal,&quot; the Emersons (and readers) are in for quite an adventure.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://evpl.org/community/aggbug.aspx?PostID=1439" width="1" height="1">humorfictionhistorical fictionmysteriesmystery serieswomen detectivesAmelia PeabodyEgyptElizabeth Peters